This is a common and debilitating condition which can affect women in pregnancy, child birth and afterwards.

Symptoms

Back pain

Grinding/clicking sensation in the pubic area

Pain over the inner thighs, in between the legs and groin

Increased pain when widening legs, walking and stairs

Burning/shooting/stabbing pains

Signs

Tenderness at the symphysis pubis and sacro-iliac joints

Reduced hip movements

A waddling walking pattern

Causes

Pregnancy

The symphysis pubis gap widens during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. With SPD the body does not adapt to the joints becoming more relaxed and allows instability in the pelvic girdle. Usually nerves and muscles adapt in pregnancy to cope with the altered pelvic load and loose ligaments. If they don’t, then this leads to instability, discomfort and pain.

Injury

Falling/landing with legs apart e.g. from a horse

Fracture

Treatment

Physiotherapy

Advice – sleep on your side with pillows in-between legs, try to make daily activities less painful, posture, rest

Ice/heat

Pelvic support – KT taping techniques/pelvic belts

Crutches

Exercises – pelvic floor, abdominals, core stability

Acupuncture

Ladies at risk of developing SPD:

Pelvic girdle pain before pregnancy

Previous pelvic injury

SPD in previous pregnancy

General increase in mobility in other joints

Overweight before becoming pregnant

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